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3 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. EARTH. RIDING SADDLE.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

N. FUCHS PholmLflhognpher, Washington, D-Q

3 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

G. EARTH. RIDING SADDLE.

(No Model.)

No. 423,302. Patnted Mar. 11; 1890.;

WIZi/VESSES: zwro w k .zlilmwey N. PETERS. PhubLilhogrqphor, Wuhlngmn.D.Q.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.v

0.,BABTH. RIDING SADDLE.

No. 423,302. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN EARTH, OF HCRSHOLM, DENMARK.

RIDING-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,302, dated March11, 1890.

Application filed November 18 1889- Serial No. 330,700. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN 'BARTH, a subject of the King of Denmark,and a resident of Hrshohn, in the Province of Zealand and Kingdom ofDenmark, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Saddles;and I do hereby declare that the following is l a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the ac companying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which-- Figure l is a side elevation showing my improved saddleproperly adjusted upon the back of a horse. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe saddle-tree. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the same. Fig. at isa cross-sectional view of the complete device. Fig. 5 is aplan view ofthe pommel-cover. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bolster or padding.Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken through one of the bolsters andside bars. Fig. 8 is a detail view in plan of the bolster and covers;and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the bolster-cover P.

Like letters of reference denote like parts throughout the severalviews.

My invention has relation to improvements in saddles; and it consists inproviding a device of such construction as to combine safety withcomfort and convenience to the horseman, as well as preventing frictionand rubbing of the animal; and with these and other ends in view itconsists in the improved c011- struction and combination of parts, ashereinafter more fully set forth and described.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, the lettersA A represent the side bars of the saddle, said bars being provided attheir rear ends with thong-loops a a, by means of which thongs or strapsmay be attached for the purpose of securing articles to the saddle.

The letter 13 represents the pommel of the saddle, which has its ends I)b bifurcated, the arms formed thereby being riveted or otherwisesuitably secured to the side bars. Each of the forward ones of thesearms is also provided with buttons C C, by means of which thepommel-cover D and the fore girths E E are attached. Slightly to therear of the pommel is an arch-shaped piece F, having its being providedwith a loop j for the reception I of a thong or strap, which may beemployed in addition to the straps secured to the ends of the side barsfor the purpose of securing articles to the saddle.

The fore girths E, as previously stated, are connected to the pommel ofthe saddle by means of the buttons thereof engaging button-holes in saidfore girths, and the latter are further provided with elongated slits oropenings e 6, through which straps K K are passed.

The ponnnel-coverD is made to conform to the shape of the pommel, and isprovided at each end, upon the under side, with leather keepers orstraploops (Z d, through which the fore girths pass. This cover issecured to the pommel by buttoning the same thereto, as clearly shown.

The letter L represents a cushion-roll, which is secured in placeimmediately to the rear of the pommel by means of a strap or thong M,

thebuckle portion thereof passing through a keeper or strap-loop (1'upon the pommelcover, while the opposite end of the strap is drawnthrough a metallic loop N, whereby the strap is looped tightly aroundthe cushion-roll, and then passed through a transverse slot 1) in thepommel, and finally secured to the buckle. The ends of this cushion-rollare held in proper place by means of the straps K K, passing through theslits in the fore girths. This cushion-roll prevents injury to the riderwhen forcibly thrown forward by a sudden start of the horse orotherwise, as it prevents his body from coming in violent as close aspossible to the animal. These bolsters are made of oblong form andcomposed of a series of thick strips of woolen horsecloth, preferablysix in number, as clearly These bolsters or pads are also provided at Ieach end with buttons 0, which also extend through the leather outercoverings Q Q. These latter are provided at their forward ends withpockets q q, into which the forward ends of the side bars fit, and areretained in proper position. To these coverings Q Q are attachedauxiliary leather flaps R R, which are secured permanently at theirupper edge by two seams, thus leaving the ends and lower. edges free.Two button-holes are located at each end, adapted to engage the buttonsof the bolsters or pads, and their rear ends are also provided withslits r r, which fit around the ends of the cantle, and also providedwith straps S S, passing through keepers r 0", their free ends beingsecured to the lowerbuttons. These flaps are provided toward theirforward ends with square notches r 1*, which fit neatly around thestirrup-supports, and are also provided with rounded notches 0" rfitting around the buttons of the pommel. It willthus be seen that theside bars of the saddle fit between the leather coverings and the flapsof the bolsters, and by providing the buttons for retaining these twopieces together-the bars are securely held in place, and

at the same time means are provided for read- E ily removing the barswhenever it may be found desirable to do so. In fact, by theconstruction herein shown and described the entire saddle may bedismantled with but a minimum of trouble and labor being necessary.

The fore girths E, I prefer to construct of two. separate strapsattached to the pommel, aspreviously described, and having the endsthereof provided with loops, by means of which .a third. strap may beattached; The saddle is further secured to the animal by means of themiddle and hind girths.

Having thus fully described the construction'of my'improved saddle, Iwill now point out the advantages of the same.

It will be seen that the saddle rests easily and firmly upon theanimalsback, the only portions thereof coming directly in contact beingthe bolsters .or pads, whereby friction is almost entirely prevented;further, it provides an easy and very agreeable seat for the horseman,and is little liable to work forward, as is usual with saddles of theordinary construction; further, it brings the rider closely to the backof the animal, whereby he is able to follow the movements of the horse;further, the weight of the saddle is much less than those ordinarily inuse; and, furthermore, it possesses the advantages of inexpensiveness ofproduction, can be readily taken apart, and is exceedingly simple ofconstruction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In ariding-saddle, the combination, with mel, and cantle, said sidebars having an intervening space between the same, of the arch-shapedpiece located to the rear of the side bars, and the bars for connectingthe arch-shaped piece with the pommel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a riding-saddle, the combination, with a saddle-tree consisting oftheside bars, pommel, and cantle, said side bars having an in-.tervening space between the same, of, an arch-shaped piece located tothe rear of-the pommel and having its ends riveted to the roundedportions having anti frictional sleeves thereon, said cross-piecesconnecting the arch-shaped piecejwith the pommel, and stirrup-strapsadapted to rest in the rolls, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of side bars, a cantle, la pommel connecting theforward ends of said jside bars, said pommel being provided with;buttons, fore girths secured to said buttons, {and a pommel-coverprovided upon opposite lends on the under side with strap-loopsorikeepers, and also having button-holesfor-se icuringthesame to thepommel,- substantially ias set forth.

Zc'antle, the pommel connecting the forwardends of said side bars, saidpommel being provided withbuttons and also having a central transverseslot, the foregirths securedto said buttons and providedwith slits, thestraps or thongs passing through'said slits, the cushion-roll, thepommel-cover provided .on/its upper face with a keeper or strapdoop, anda strap for holding said cushion-roll in posit-ion,having,the buckle endthereof passing-through the keeper upon the pommelcover and the otherend passing through the transverse slot. of the pommel and secured tothe buckle, substantially asset forth.

5. The. combination, with the bolsters-or pads provided with endbuttons, the outer leather coverings, the flaps seamed atthe upper edgesto said coverings so as ,to leavethe ends and lower edges thereof free,the rear ends of said flaps being provided with slits secured to thebuttons of the bolsters, ofthe saddlestree consisting of the sidebars,-pommel, and cantle, said side bars fittingbetween the leathercoverings andthe' flaps of the bol- 6. The combination, with thebolsters'o'r pads provided with end buttons, the outer a saddle-treeconsisting of the side bars, po1nside bars, cross-pieces provided withcentral 4. The combination of the side bars, the

pommel and having its ends riveted to the IIO and; also provided withstraps adapted to be sters, substantially as set forth. V I

leather coverings provided on their forward ends with pockets, the flapsseamed at the upper edges to said coverings so as to leave the ends andlower edges thereof free, the rear ends of said flaps being providedwith slits and also provided with straps adapted to be secured to thebuttons of the bolsters, of the saddle-tree consisting of the side bars,pommel, and cantle, said side bars fitting between the leather coveringsand the flaps of the bolsters and having their forward ends entering thepockets of the leather coverings substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination of the side bars provided on their rear ends withthong-loops, the ponnnel having bifurcated ends riveted or otherwisesecured to the side bars and provided with buttons, the cantle providedwith a thong-loop the cushions disposed beneath the side bars andprovided with end buttons, the leather coverings provided with pocketsfor the reception of the forward ends of the side bars, the flapssecured to said leather coverings, said flaps being provided with rearslits and also provided with straps adapted to be secured to the buttonsof the bolsters, the fore girths secured to the buttons of the pomrnel,and the pommel-cover likewise secured to said buttons and provided uponits under side with keepers or straploops, through which the fore girthspass, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN EARTH.

Witnesses:

PETER OLsnN, A. EARTH HUDBEY.

